Wick support and storage means for non-spillable safety wick dispenser bottles

ABSTRACT

A cup-shaped insert engaged in the neck of a wick dispenser bottle for supporting a generally non-stiffened wick in dispensing position generally outwardly of the dispenser bottle. The cup-shaped member includes means sealingly engaging the wick for precluding spillage of liquid from the container and the cupshaped member includes means for storage of the dispenser wick in a nonuse position beneath a closure engaged over the neck of the dispenser bottle.

United States Patent [191 Maltenfort 1 Apr.3, 1973 [54] WICK SUPPORT AND STORAGE MEANS FOR NON-SPILLABLE SAFETY WICK DISPENSER BOTTLES [76] Inventor: Martin S. Maltenfort, Blue Ball Road, Route 3, PO. Box 33, Newark, Del. 21921 [22] Filed: June 14,1971

21 Appl. No.: 152,803

US. Cl ..239/47, 239/44 [51] Int. Cl. ..A24f 25/00 [58] Field of Search ..239/44-5 1.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,554,302 5/1951 Keskitalo ..239/44 x Xenakis et al ..239/47 Levin .239/47 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-John J. Love Attorney-Lawrence I. Field [5 7 ABSTRACT 11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPRI-J I975 3,724,756

INVENTOR Martin S. Mclfenforf WICK SUPPORT AND STORAGE MEANS FOR NON-SPILLABLE SAFETY WICK DISPENSER BOTTLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improvements in wick dispenser bottles for vaporizable liquid wherein a wick dispenses the liquid by slow diffusion into the surrounding air. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved wick supporting and non-use storage means for engagement in a neck opening of a container of liquid to be vaporized. More specifically, this invention relates to an improved wick support and storage means which. normally precludes spillage of the liquid contents of the bottle with which it is associated if the bottle is tipped or knocked over while the wick is in a use position and wherein the wick support means is constructed to provide a safety closure to minimize the possibility of children gaining access to the liquid contents.

In the prior art relating to wick support means for non-spillable bottles, it has been known heretofore to provide an adjunct for the neck opening of the disperser bottle to preclude spillage of liquid from the bottle in the event the bottle is inadvertently tipped or knocked over while open for use. In such prior art adjuncts for wick dispenser bottles, there have also been attempts to overcome the problems associated with returning the wick to a non-use position generally within the dispenser bottle. In the prior art in an attempt to provide a non-spillable wick bottle and still enable the movement of the wick from a non-use position, generally within the bottle, to a use position extending generally outwardly of the bottle, it was found SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has now been found that the aforementioned problems associated with the provision of non-spillable wick dispenser bottles can effectively be overcome by the provision of a generally cup-shaped member for engagement in the neck opening of a bottle and wherein the cup-shaped member includes means for supporting a non-stiffened wick in non-spillable relation to the contentsof the bottle. In addition, the member engaged within the neck of the bottle includes means for storage of the wick in a non-use position without necessitating movement of the wick inwardly of the neck engaged membenAccordingly, it has been found that the manufacture of the neck engaged member and wick, and assembly of the two components, can be simplified by eliminating the normally requiredwick stiffening means, generally comprising a wire frame or other stiffening means to which is secured the wick.

It has also been found in accordance with the present invention that by eliminating the need for movement of the wick past the sealing means of the neck engaged wetting of the wick by the liquids contents of the bottle,

a very leak-resistant seal about the wick is provided. Further, inasmuch as the neck-engaged member is sized so as to receive a previously extended wick in a non-use position, without the need formovement of the wick past the sealing aperature in the neck-engaging member, it is merely necessary to apply the container closure to effect a return of the wick to the non-use storage position simultaneously effectively sealing the container for storage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will readily be understood from a consideration of the following description taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated wherein like parts are identified by like reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with portions broken away, showing the coaction of neck-engaging member, and .a dispensing wick to provide a non-spillable dispenser bottle;

FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged side elevational view of the non-spillable dispenser bottle of FIG. 1 and wherein the upper portion thereof is shown in vertical cross section with the dispensing wick extended generally outwardly of the bottle in a use position;

FIG. 3 is a view generally similar to FIG. 2 and showing the dispensing wick returned to a non-use position by the placement of closure about the neck of the dispenser bottle;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary embodiment of a neck-engaging member as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view substantially along the'plane of the line 5-5 of FIG. 2, as viewed in the direction indicated therein; and

FIG. 6 is a' view similar to FIG. 2 showing a wick extending means.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawing, a container 10 for liquid to be vaporized, such as a relatively volatile liquid mediciment for vaporization into the air to relieve the symptoms of colds, coughs, hay fever, sinusitis, for example, is provided, with a cup-shaped insert indicated generally at 12. The insert 12 includes a generally cylindrical body portion 14, a bottom wall 16, and a radially extending flange 18, for positioning the insert 12 such as within a neck opening 20 of the container 10. It will be understood that the outer diameter of the body portion 14 of the insert 12 is sized so as to be frictionally contained within the neck portion 20 of the container 10 in liquid tight sealing relation thereto. In addition, it will be appreciated that insert 12 need not necessarily be provided with a radially extending flange 18. If a flange 18 is provided, as seen A best in FIGS. 2 and 3, the flange is of a somewhat smaller diameter than that of the upper end of the neck portion 20 of the container'10. The construction of the insert in this manner serves to minimize the possibility of young children gaining access to the liquid contents of the disposer. Thus, the insert 12 not only provides an improved dispenser, but one which is safer for use in a childs room, for example. As seen in FIG. 4, the bottom wall 16 of the insert 12 is provided with a transverse slot indicated generally at 22 within which is sealingly received a wick 24 preferably formed of woven or felted synthetic or natural fibers.

The insert 12 is preferably molded of synthetic resin and the slot 22 may be simultaneously formed therein or subsequently provided by a suitable cutting or stamping operation. The sizing of the transverse width of the slot 22 in relation to the non-swollen thickness of the wick 24 is a salient aspect of the invention. In this regard, the transverse width of the slot 22 is sized so as to just permit threading of the dry wick through slot 22, during the assembly of the two components 12 and 24 in preparation for insertion of the insert 12 into the neck of a container previously at least partially filled with a quantity of vaporizable liquid 26.

As seen in FIG. 1, in the initial assembled relationship of the wick 24 to the insert 12, the outwardly disposed end portion 28 of the wick 24 generally does not extend outwardly of the body portion 14 of the insert 12. As also seen in FIG. 1, FIGS. 2 and 3, by virtue of the cooperation of the transverse dimension of the slot 22 and the thickness of the wick 24, as well as the length of the slot 22 and the transverse width of the wick 24, the liquid-swelled condition of the wick 24 renders the contents 26 of the bottle non-spillable. In the embodiment illustrated, the wick 24 is shown as an elongated generally rectangular web folded back upon itself with the bight portion terminating in the outwardly disposed end portion 28, threaded outwardly through the slot 22. It will be appreciated that the wick need not be of the configuration of the wick 24, either as to being bent back upon itself or being ofa relatively rectangular cross-sectional configuration, as long as the aforedescribed sealing cooperation of the slot means 22 and liquid wetted wick 24 is maintained. As seen best in FIG. 2, the wick may be provided with a detent means, such as comprising a rivet 25 which precludes inadvertent withdrawal of the wick to extent that the wick would no longer extend to the bottom of the bottle.

As seen in FIG. 2, the bight portion of the wick 24 has been grasped and pulled upwardly and outwardly of the insert 12, and consequently substantially clear of the neck portion of the bottle 10 to expose substantially more of the wick 24 to the air to increase the amount of vaporization as normally desired during utilization of the wick dispenser. Alternatively, as seen in the modification of FIG. 6, the wick can be provided with means for extending the wick upon removal of the container closure. In this regard, it will be seen that a helical spring 34 is positioned about, and frictionally retained upon, the wick 24.

As will be appreciated from a simultaneous consideration of FIGS. 2 and 3, when vaporization of the contents 26 is no longer desired, the bight portion of the wick 24 can be collapsed into the body portion 14 of the insert 12 by application of the closure cap 30 about the neck of the container 10.

It will be understood that the thread type securing means for the closure 30 is merely exemplary.

Turning now to another salient aspect of the invention in greater detail, it will also be seen from the simultaneous consideration of FIGS. 2 and 3 that the inner diameter of the body portion 14, as well as the longitudinal dimension thereof, defines a sufficiently large volume to entirely accept the bight portion of the wick 24 subsequent to its having been extended from the position shown in FIG. 1 to that shown in FIG. 2. Accordingly, it will be seen that the aforedescribed construction and cooperation of the cup shaped insert 12 and the wick 24 permits elimination of a wick stiffening means, such as normally comprising a wire framework, whereby subsequent to the initial extension of the wick incident to the initial use of the wick dispenser bottle, the necessity for moving the wick 24 inwardly relative to the bottom wall 16 of the insert 12 is obviated. Thus, the wick 24 adjacent the point indicated generally at 32, at the juncture of its passage through bottom wall portion 16 of the insert 12 is maintained effectively sealed against spillage of the liquid contents of the wick dispenser bottle 10. In FIG. 5, it will be seen that the liquid-swelled wick 24 sealing engages the walls defining the slot provided in the bottom wall 16 of the insert 12.

From the foregoing description, taken in consideration with the drawings, it will be seen that a simplified wick dispenser bottle is provided by the utilization of the wick support and storage means of the present invention and wherein the need for an additional wick stiffening support member is obviated without sacrificing the non-spillable characteristic of a wick dispenser bottle while simultaneously providing for storage of the previously extended wick.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the wick support and storage insert for wick dispenser bottles herein described will occur to those skilled in the art and to the extent that such changes and modifications are embraced by the appended claims, it is to be understood that they constitute part of my invention.

I claim:

1. A wick holder and storage insert for upwardly opening engagement in the neck opening of a container of liquid to be dispensed by vaporization comprising a generally cup-shaped member having a generally tubular'body having a bottom wall provided with a slot, a generally non-stiffened wick extending through said slot above and below said bottom wall, said wick being dimensioned so as to extend outwardly of said cupshaped member in a use position, the periphery of said slot compressably and sealingly engaging said wick whereby said wick in wetted condition is normally nonretractable through said slot and said cup-shaped insert being dimensioned so as to have an interior volume sufficient to accommodate said portion of said wick above said bottom wall.

2. The combination of claim 1 including means carried by said wick for limiting movement of said wick relative to said bottom wall.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said tubular body is provided with an outwardly disposed radial flange adjacent the open end thereof.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said wick comprises an elongaged web of generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration, said web being folded back upon itself with the bight portion extending upwardly of said bottom wall.

5. A non-spillable wick dispenser including a liquid holding container for vaporizable liquid, a closure for said container, a cup-shaped insert engaged in the neck of the container and having a bottom wall provided with a slot, a generally non-stiffened wick extending through said slot, said wick being dimensioned so as to extend outwardly of said cup-shaped member in a use position, the periphery of said slot compressably and sealingly engaging said wick whereby said wick is normally non-retractable through said slot and said cupshaped insert being dimensioned so as to have an interior volume sufficient to accommodate said wick beneath said closurej 6. The combination of claim 5 including means carried by said wick for limiting movement of said wick relative to said bottom wall. I

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein said tubular body is provided with an outwardly disposed radial flange adjacent the open end thereof.

8. The combination of claim 5 wherein said wick comprises an elongated web of generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration, said web being folded back upon itself with the bight portion extending upwardly of said bottom wall.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said radial flange is of a lesser diameter than the neck of the container. I I

10. A wick holder and storage insert for upwardly opening engagement in the neck opening of a container of liquid to be dispensed by vaporization comprising a generally cup-shaped member having a generally tubular body having a bottom wall provided with a slot, a generally non-stiffened wick extending through said slot above and below said bottom wall, the periphery of said slot compressably and sealingly engaging said wick whereby said wick in wetted condition is normally nonretractable through said slot and said cup-shaped insert being dimensioned so as to have an interior volume sufficient to accommodate said portion of said wick above said bottom wall, and means for extending said portion of said wick above said bottom wall so as to extend said wick upwardly and outwardly of said cup-shaped member.

11. A non-spillable wick dispenser including a liquid holding container for vaporizable liquid, a closure for said container, a cup-shaped insert engaged in the neck of the container and having a bottom wall provided with a slot, a generally non-stiffened wick extending through said slot, the periphery of said slot compressably and sealingly engaging said wick whereby said wick is normally non-retractable through said slot and said cup-shaped insert being dimensioned so as to have an interior volume sufficient to accommodate said wick beneath said closure, and means for extending said portion of said wick above said bottom wall so as to extend said wick upwardly and outwardly of said cup-shaped member. 

1. A wick holder and storage insert for upwardly opening engagement in the neck opening of a container of liquid to be dispensed by vaporization comprising a generally cup-shaped member having a generally tubular body having a bottom wall provided with a slot, a generally non-stiffened wick extending through said slot above and below said bottom wall, said wick being dimensioned so as to extend outwardly of said cup-shaped member in a use position, the periphery of said slot compressably and sealingly engaging said wick whereby said wick in wetted condition is normally non-retractable through said slot and said cup-shaped insert being dimensioned so as to have an interior volume sufficient to accommodate said portion of said wick above said bottom wall.
 2. The combination of claim 1 including means carried by said wick for limiting movement of said wick relative to said bottom wall.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said tubular body is provided with an outwardly disposed radial flange adjacent the open end thereof.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said wick comprises an elongaged web of generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration, said web being folded back upon itself with the bight portion extending upwardly of said bottom wall.
 5. A non-spillable wick dispenser including a liquid holding container for vaporizable liquid, a closure for said container, a cup-shaped insert engaged in the neck of the container and having a bottom wall provided with a slot, a generally non-stiffened wick extending through said slot, said wick being dimensioned so as to extend outwardly of said cup-shaped member in a use position, the periphery of said slot compressably and sealingly engaging said wick whereby said wick is normally non-retractable through said slot and said cup-shaped insert being dimensioned so as to have an interior volume sufficient to accommodate said wick beneath said closure.
 6. The combination of claim 5 including means carried by said wick for limiting movement of said wick relative to said bottom wall.
 7. The combination of claim 5 wherein said tubular body is provided with an outwardly disposed radial flange adjacent the open end thereof.
 8. The combination of claim 5 wherein said wick comprises an elongated web of generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration, said web being folded back upon itself with the bight portion extending upwardly of said bottom wall.
 9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said radial flange is of a lesser diameter than the neck of the container.
 10. A wick holder and storage insert for upwardly opening engagement in the neck opening of a container of liquid to be dispensed by vaporization comprising a generally cup-shaped member having a generally tubular body having a bottom wall provided with a slot, a generally non-stiffened wick extending through said slot above and below said bottom wall, the periphery of said slot compressably and sealingly engaging said wick whereby said wick in wetted condition is normally non-retractable tHrough said slot and said cup-shaped insert being dimensioned so as to have an interior volume sufficient to accommodate said portion of said wick above said bottom wall, and means for extending said portion of said wick above said bottom wall so as to extend said wick upwardly and outwardly of said cup-shaped member.
 11. A non-spillable wick dispenser including a liquid holding container for vaporizable liquid, a closure for said container, a cup-shaped insert engaged in the neck of the container and having a bottom wall provided with a slot, a generally non-stiffened wick extending through said slot, the periphery of said slot compressably and sealingly engaging said wick whereby said wick is normally non-retractable through said slot and said cup-shaped insert being dimensioned so as to have an interior volume sufficient to accommodate said wick beneath said closure, and means for extending said portion of said wick above said bottom wall so as to extend said wick upwardly and outwardly of said cup-shaped member. 